Abstract: An electric toaster with a safety shut-off mechanism includes a carriage bracket with a user-manipulated knob that is movable between an upper rest position and a lower actuation position. A food support member is supported by the carriage bracket between the upper rest position and a lower toasting position. An electromagnet is connected to one of the chassis and the carriage bracket for holding the carriage bracket in the actuation position when the electromagnet is energized. A switch is movable to a closed position upon downward movement of the carriage bracket to the actuation position to energize the electromagnet and heating elements associated with the toaster. The carriage bracket is upwardly movable upon deenergization of the electromagnet to open the switch between the actuation position and the lower toasting position to deenergize the heating elements.

Abstract: A sensor detects skewed adjacent movable component. The sensor may be used to detect harmful skews of aircraft control surfaces, such as slats or flaps on aircraft wings, which may be caused by an actuator disconnection from the surface it drives. Harmful skew, which is a relative asymmetrical motion of control surfaces beyond a predetermined limit, is detected by the sensor, but the relatively smaller harmless skew caused by normal flight is ignored. The sensor comprises first and second arms connected to a common base that may be attached to a first control surface. A constraining means such as a mechanical fuse holds the arms together while a separating means such as a spring exerts a separating force on the arms when the fuse breaks. A switching means is integral to the two arms. A striker pin on a second control surface strikes the first or second sensor arm when the relative motion between the control surfaces exceeds a certain predetermined limit.

Abstract: The need for specialized tooling which was previously required to accurately place the first layer of turns in a precision winding of a rotor having an even number of layers of turns is eliminated by providing self-fixturing wire-guiding features in corners of slots in the rotor which receive the winding, thereby facilitating the manufacture or repair of precision-wound rotors. In some exemplary embodiments, the self-fixturing wire-guiding features are provided by configuring the corners of the slots to include a chamfer or shoulder. In other exemplary embodiments, a specially shaped slot liner inserted into the slots includes a corner spacer which provides the self-fixturing wire-guiding feature.

Abstract: An air filtration device for intake of atmospheric air, removal of contaminants from the atmospheric air, expulsion of filtered air, includes a housing configured for application directly to an electrical outlet and provides air intake from the front surface of the housing and air expulsion from the side of the housing to utilize a wall surface to disperse the filtered air. An indicator is provided to communicate that a filter should be changed, and a filter orientation system is provided to allow proper orientation of the filter with respect to air flow.

Abstract: An aircraft power system includes a secondary power distribution assembly (SPDA), a programmable solid state power controller (SSPC) disposed within the SPDA and a non-volatile memory disposed within the SPDA and adapted to store configuration information for the programmable SSPC. The configuration information stored by the non-volatile memory may include the name and current rating of the SSPC and whether that SSPC is enabled or disabled.

Abstract: An air sampling device for obtaining an air sample from a person's lungs, and a method for using the same. The air sampling device is comprised of generally of a breath intake structure, an expandable bag structure, an adhesive patch, and a removable adhesive patch cover. Optionally an adhesive inlet seal patch also seals either the expandable bag inlet or an outer shell. The outer shell is provided to capture the air sample should the expandable bag structure fail. A person breathes into the breath intake, the device directing a first predetermined volume of breath into the expandable bag structure, and the remainder of breath also into the expandable bag, the remainder of the breath expelling the first predetermined volume of waste air from the expandable bag structure. The breath intake structure and removable adhesive patch cover are removed and the adhesive patch seals the interior surfaces of the expandable bag structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric electrolyte which is part of an electrochemical reference electrode and which is used in potentiometric and amperometric sensors. The polymeric electrolyte is a hydrogel which is stable in a large pH-range and stable against organic solvents.

Abstract: A steam iron including a soleplate, a steam chamber having an upper surface portion with a water inlet opening, a water reservoir having a bottom surface portion with a water outlet opening and a valve assembly for directing controlled amounts of water from the reservoir into the steam chamber. The valve assembly including a valve port member having a body formed of a matrix of material with a bore and hollow bypass conduit. The upwardly-facing surface of the valving portion including an opening for the hollow bypass conduit. The hollow bypass conduit having a lower end open along an inside wall portion of the valving portion of the bore, a valve element extending into the bore, rotatable about an axis for controlling the flow of water through the valving portion. The valving portion including first and second barriers such that rotation of the valving element allows the user to allow or prevent water from flowing to the steam chamber.

Abstract: A multi-pole generator rotor and a method of making the same are disclosed. A multi-pole generator rotor includes a rotor body having a central portion with a generally cylindrical outer surface. The outer surface includes three pairs of diametrically opposed slots extending along a length of the central portion, with each of the slots being sized to receive therein a plurality of wires. Each of the slots further includes a pair of opposed retaining flanges. A plurality of retaining members are sized for insertion into a corresponding one of the slots. Each retaining member engages a pair of the retaining flanges from its corresponding slot. The retaining members thereby retaining the wires disposed in each slot against radially outward displacement.

Abstract: A generator/starter system for starting an engine and for tapping power from the engine in order to generate electricity includes a squirrel cage rotor, a main stator winding, an auxiliary stator winding, and an excitation source. The main stator winding is magnetically coupled to the squirrel cage rotor so as to provide an AC output in response to rotation of the squirrel cage rotor and so as to rotate the squirrel cage rotor in response to an AC input. The auxiliary stator winding is magnetically coupled to the squirrel cage rotor so as to provide excitation current when the main stator winding is providing the AC output. The source of excitation current is coupled to the auxiliary stator winding.

Abstract: A cutter for use in a blender includes a central hub portion defining a horizontal plane. First and second pairs of blades extend outwardly from the hub portion. The first pair of blades is oriented on opposite sides of the hub portion and the blades lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as the hub portion. The second pair of blades is oriented on opposite sides of the hub portion and the blades extend upwardly from the horizontal plane of the hub portion, and further wherein the angles of upward extension of each of the second pair of blades is asymmetric. Further, each blade of the first set of blades has a cutting edge and trailing edge, and each blade of the first set of blades is pitched so that there is a downward slope from the cutting edge to the trailing edge.

Abstract: An odor-reducing water display system includes a reservoir, a pump for removing water from the reservoir, a conduit in fluid communication with the pump for returning the removed water to the reservoir, and a germicidal light source positioned for directing radiant energy toward the water to thereby reduce microbes and their accompanying odor that may be present in the water.

Abstract: A lock, particularly well suited for use with a safe which includes a movable door latch mechanism having a lock bolt abutment surface. The lock has a casing having a bolt-receiving aperture in one of its walls. The casing is to be mounted to the door, for example, on the inside surface of the door with the bolt-receiving aperture adjacent the bolt-abutment surface of the door latch mechanism. A bolt is slidably mounted in the casing for movement at an angle relative to the bolt abutment surface of the door latch mechanism between a locked position projecting through the aperture in the casing and into abutment with the abutment surface of the door latch mechanism and an unlocked position out of abutment with the abutment surface of the door latch mechanism and retracted into the casing.

Abstract: An air filtration device for intake of atmospheric air, removal of contaminants from the atmospheric air, expulsion of filtered air, includes a housing configured for application directly to an electrical outlet and provides air intake from the front surface of the housing and air expulsion from the side of the housing to utilize a wall surface to disperse the filtered air. An indicator is provided to communicate that a filter should be changed, and a filter orientation system is provided to allow proper orientation of the filter with respect to air flow.